Following the federal designation of South Carolina as a disaster area, the IRS included the counties of Chesterfield, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Marlboro in its relief measures.

The IRS says its declaration permits the agency to postpone certain tax and payment deadlines for taxpayers who live or who have businesses within the qualifying counties.

“For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after Sept. 8, 2018 and before Jan. 31, 2019, are granted additional time to file through Jan. 31, 2019. This includes taxpayers who had a valid extension to file their 2017 return due to run out on Oct. 15, 2018,” the IRS release states. “It also includes the quarterly estimated income tax payments due on Sept. 17, 2018 and Jan. 15, 2019, and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Oct. 31, 2018. It also includes tax-exempt organizations that operate on a calendar-year basis and had an automatic extension due to run out on Nov. 15, 2018.”

Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Sept. 8 and before Sept. 24 will be abated as long as those deposits are made by Sept. 24.

If a qualified taxpayer gets a late filing or late payment notice from the IRS with a due date within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number given on the written notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

Taxpayers or businesses do not need to contact the agency to claim the benefits for filing purposes. The IRS applies the filing and payment relief automatically, using the address included in the filing or payment to qualify the taxpayer. Those located outside the disaster area, however, should call the IRS at 866-562-5227 to qualify for the relief.